TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, today said the staggeringly successful launch of the new Apple iPhone will be a major boost for the games industry.
The technology giant finally allowed consumers to get their hands on the iPhone 5 this morning and with more than two million pre-orders – twice that of the predecessor iPhone 4S – there will be more people than ever playing iOS games.
With the launch two days ago of iOS 6 with its enhanced gaming abilities including a better Game Center and the larger screen size of the iPhone 5 giving more space for developers – and gamers – to play with, the iPhone’s popularity in the games industry is likely to soar.
Studies have shown that more people are willing to pay for games and apps on the iPhone than on Android so this will be welcome news for developers producing games on the format.
Dr. Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, said:
“Although some commentators say Apple has lost its bite and that Android is soaring away as the smartphone of choice, it is clear that the iPhone is as popular – if not more so – than ever before and this can only be a good thing. The competition between manufacturers and the enhanced technology of the current crop of handsets ensures that more powerful and therefore more attractive games can be made.
“For our members and developers in the UK in general, this is great news. People carry their phones with them all the time so to have such an advanced gaming machine at their fingertips, allied with the ease of purchase that the App Store brings, makes it a winning combination that will ensure Apple's iPhone remains an important player for at least the next two years.”
Notes to editors:
About TIGA:
TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s games industry. The majority of our members are either independent games developers or in-house publisher owned developers. We also have games publishers, outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. TIGA was awarded ‘Trade Association of the Year’ and the ‘Member Recruitment Award’ at the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards 2010. TIGA has also been named as a finalist in the 2010 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) National Management and Leadership Awards in the category of ‘The Outstanding Organisation of the Year Award (SME)’.
TIGA is an ‘Investors in People’ accredited organisation.. TIGA's vision is to make the UK the best place in the world to do games business. We focus on three sets of activities: political representation, generating media coverage and developing services that enhance the competitiveness of our members. This means that TIGA members are effectively represented in the corridors of power, their voice is heard in the media and they receive benefits that make a material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities.
For further information, please contact Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on: 07875 939 643, or email richard.wilson@tiga.org.